Heat coach McKnight resigns to concentrate on playing

McKnight could stay on as a player

Guildford Heat head coach Chad McKnight has stepped down after failing to lead the side to the BBL play-offs.

A successful Heat player, McKnight took over the dual role of player-coach last summer after the release of multi-trophy winning coach Paul James.

Owner Alan McClafferty told BBC Surrey: "After our discussion at the end of the season, we mutually agreed he really wanted to concentrate on playing.

"The gamble was Chad's experience about recruiting players and man management".

McClafferty saved the Heat from administration in 2009, and backs his choice of McKnight.

"Being in business, I've made a lot of mistakes, but I don't think appointing Chad was a mistake," he said. "If Chad had really wanted the bit between his teeth for next season, I would have gone with him, but we agreed that he wanted to concentrate on playing".

The Heat will play at a new home, the new Surrey Sports park, next season, and key players Mike Martin and Julius Joseph have already agreed to stay on. They have also asked McKnight to stay on as a player

McClafferty has no fears about the search for a new coach: "When you think there are only 13 BBL teams in the country, coaches are desperate to coach. The fact that they'll be seeing the talent already in the team just with those two guys, I don't think we'll have any problem attracting a very high quality coach".